Southport MP meets with health minister to discuss increasing number of available GP appointments

This week, I met with Health Minister Maria Caulfield to discuss increasing the number of available GP appointments, as I know some people in Southport are struggling to see their doctor.

Southport’s GPs do fantastic work providing front-line healthcare to our local community, and I pay tribute to the many that have gone above and beyond in their service to the public, particularly over the past few years.

Unfortunately, many have to spend their precious and valuable time referring patients who could otherwise refer themselves. Patient self-referral models already exist in other areas of healthcare, but for hearing loss, the process remains stuck in the past, resulting in fewer GP appointments for those who genuinely need it.

Alongside Specsavers, I raised this suggestion with the relevant Health Minister, who was very sympathetic to the initiative, and promised to look closely at it.

I will continue working hard to address this issue and progress this initiative, so that everybody who needs care in Southport is able to get that care.